QUESTION: In the last part of his latest book Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future Pope Francis says, “We might wonder and now what must I do? What would be my place in the future and what can I do to make it possible? Two words come to my mind decentre and transcend.” How do you asses it?
ANSWER: This Pope has given so much vision, dynamism, and values to the world. He is thinking of the youth and every other section of society. We can see it especially in his The Joy of the Gospel, The Joy of Love, Laudato si’ and Fratelli Tutti – universal brotherhood and sister-hood. Inspired by Fratelli Tutti, the UN declared 4 February as the inter-national day of universal fraternity and solidarity in the context of the meeting between Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyib, on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi, which resulted in the signing of the document entitled Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. He has given a dream to the world. We must salute him for what he has done for the world. No doubt, he too has his share of critics, but we should embrace his outlook. He is communicating a vision to the world and a new way of thinking to the Church, which lay stress on God-centred positive thinking. Joyful love and Joyful living are attitudes we have forgotten for long. The Pope is telling us not to be immanent and self-centred. Rather, all human beings are attuned to brotherhood, collaboration and co-operation.

Bp. Henry D’Souza
Bellary